McPeek has Tiz the Bomb ready for Holy Bull; Smile Happy to the Risen Star

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Tiz the Bomb had breezed alongside Smile Happy at Gulfstream Park for trainer Kenny McPeek on the first four Saturdays of January as both colts drew closer to making their first start at 3.

Tiz the Bomb worked again last Saturday but not Smile Happy. Was something amiss?

“I’m just ahead of schedule” with Smile Happy, McPeek said. “He’s going to work two more times” prior to shipping to Fair Grounds in New Orleans for the Risen Star on Feb. 19. “Nobody needs to worry – everything is great. There’s plenty of time.”

With that settled, McPeek is focusing on the highlight of the coming weekend at Gulfstream, the Grade 3, $250,000 Holy Bull, which will mark the 2022 debut of Tiz the Bomb. The Phoenix Thoroughbred colt will be one of the favorites in the 1 1/16-mile race when switching back to dirt following big performances in three straight turf stakes to end 2021.

Tiz the Bomb, with Brian Hernandez Jr. in from New Orleans to ride, figures to have Mo Donegal, Giant Game, and Classic Causeway as his chief opposition in the Holy Bull, a 10-4-2-1 qualifier toward the Kentucky Derby on May 7.

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Mo Donegal, likely to be favored with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard following their narrow victory in the Remsen on Dec. 2 at Aqueduct, had his final pre-race work Saturday when going a half-mile at Palm Beach Downs for trainer Todd Pletcher.

A field of at least eight 3-year-olds was taking shape ahead of Wednesday entries for the 31st Holy Bull, the first of three Derby qualifiers at Gulfstream. The Fountain of Youth on March 5 and Florida Derby on April 2 follow.

Besides Tiz the Bomb, McPeek also has Rattle N Roll and Smile Happy as major Derby prospects off their respective wins in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity and Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club. No specific race has been targeted for Rattle N Roll, who now has had two three-furlong breezes since returning from a minor injury, while Smile Happy awaits the Risen Star, a 50-20-10-5 prep.

“Rattle N Roll will work a half-mile this weekend,” McPeek said. “I might even put him up against Smile Happy. That’d be a decent matchup.”

The Holy Bull is one of five Grade 3 stakes, all for 3-year-olds, to be run here Saturday. The other races are worth $100,000 each – the Swale and Forward Gal, both at seven furlongs, and the Kitten’s Joy and Sweetest Chant, both at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

High Oak, winner of the Saratoga Special last summer for Bill Mott, returns from a five-month layoff in the Swale. Mott said over the weekend he intended to enter Galt in the Holy Bull.